Ruth Purdie, TISPOL General Secretary reports that Project EDWARD was a ‘fantastic awareness-raiser’ for road safety.

Pledge count topped 103,000 on TISPOL website

Twitter reach of 19 million

We are taking the opportunity to thank everyone who participated in the first Project EDWARD (European Day Without A Road Death), which took place in 30 countries on Wednesday 21 September.

Yes, we set out to make one day without death on Europe’s roads. That was always going to be a very challenging task, and I know that there were some fatalities. But as a way of raising awareness and striking a chord far beyond the road safety sector, Project EDWARD was a runaway success and I am excited about how we take the concept forward.

TyreSafe is launching their annual tyre safety campaign on 1 October, which will run for the whole of October.

Research carried out by the TyreSafe team and Highways England into tyre tread depth at the point of replacement, has shown that over 340,000 tyres, surveyed by 800 retailers across England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales confirmed that more than one-in-four British motorists are replacing their tyres when they are already illegal. In 2016, that equates to potentially over 10 million illegal and dangerous tyres on Britain’s roads. In combination with the number of casualties resulting from tyre-related incidents, the MoT failure rate due to defective tyres, and surveys of British motorists’ awareness of tyre safety issues, there is unquestionable evidence that attitudes need to change.

In addition to the fact that routine tyre checks would prevent many of these incidents, this evidence has been the inspiration behind this year’s Tyre Safety Month campaign – Don’t chance it, Check it.

The first European Day Without A Road Death is taking place across Europe on Wednesday 21 September. Devised as Project EDWARD by the European Traffic Police Network (TISPOL), the initiative seeks to draw attention to the average of 70 deaths occurring every day on the roads of Europe.

UK support for Project EDWARD comes from the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC), the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), Road Safety GB, Road Safety Scotland, Road Safety Wales, the Automobile Association and many public and private organisations.

TISPOL believes it’s vital to gain the support of national governments, as well as winning the hearts and minds of individual road users, in order to bring about sustained and significant reductions in death and injury on Europe’s roads.

This summer police will be targeting drivers who risk their lives and the lives of others by driving whilst under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Dyfed Powys Police will lead the month-long campaign on behalf of the four welsh police forces, running from 10th June to the 10th July, to coincide with the 2016 UEFA European Championships which takes place in France.

Over the next four weeks, thousands of motorists face being stopped as teams from the four forces – North Wales, Dyfed Powys, South Wales and Gwent - conduct road checks at various locations across the country.

Last year in Wales the campaign saw officers carrying out over 12,000 breath tests, of which over 300 roadside breath tests were positive. 52 arrests were made under the new Section 5a drug drive offence

Nearly 800 arrests were made for drug driving in Wales in the year after new laws came into force.

The four Welsh police forces made 770 arrests between March 2, 2015, when the new laws came in and the same date this year.

South Wales Police arrested 136 people for drug driving, with 70 people charged, according to figures obtained through Freedom of Information requests by BBC Radio 5 Live. Dyfed Powys made 71 arrests over the period, with 22 facing charges.

More than 1,400 people across Wales have been caught for not wearing their seatbelt during a two-week campaign. Between 7th and 21st March all four Welsh police forces, led by North Wales Police, carried out their Seatbelt Campaign to raise awareness amongst drivers and passengers of the dangers of not wearing seatbelts in the event of a collision.

To coincide with the Anti Drink/Drug Driving Campaign that launched on 1st December, RoSPA Wales have produced their second ‘Driving for Work’ factsheet which this time focuses on drink and drug driving.

Driving for Work: Drink and DrugsAs the festive season approaches, and with the inevitable increase of office parties as well as family celebrations, there is a need to remind people of the dangers of drinking or taking drugs and then driving – including the morning after.

In 2014 there were 3015 convictions in Welsh Courts for drink/drug driving. With a minimum 12 month driving ban, an unlimited fine, and a criminal record this could have a significant effect on employees as well the companies they work for. Driving while unfit through drugs, whether illegal, prescribed or over-the-counter medicines, is an offence that carries the same penalties as drink driving. The Police can, and do, conduct roadside tests to help them assess whether a driver may be impaired.